Improvement in cotton-bale -ties



C. SWETT.

Improvement in Cottan-Bale Ties.

No.129,189. Patented July 16, 1812.

a A I 5 & FY9150 WiTNESSES- .INVENTO'R 62% M, Charles Swefif. W am-y.g. y:

' I Attorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN COTTQN- BAL E TIES-a Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,189, dated July 16, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES SWETT, of the countyof Oopiah and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bale-Ties, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and the letters of reference marked thereon making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the tie-plate unfolded. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tie. Fig. 3 is an edge view.

The object of my'invention is to furnish a simple and practical tie for cotton and other bales, and which permits of the fastening the looped ends of the iron band or hoop with the greatest facility, and which also secures their proper retention when called upon to resist the expansive force of the bale when freed from the compression of the press.

I am well aware that there are numerous ties in the market in which a link or slotted plate with an opening or cleft leading thereinto, are used to secure the bands. Such devices in any of their varied forms I desire it understood constitute no part of my invention, which consists in using, in contradistinction to the link or slotted plate with a cleft cut through one of its walls, a folded plate with an open front, through which the looped ends of the band are introduced, and having projecting from each side of its upper and lower surface and at right angles to their planes short shoulders, which serve to prevent the bands from slipping off the plate.

One of the greatest advantages of my invention is, that the looped ends of the band are eventually fastened and held on a line precisely parallel to that through which they are introduced; thus requiring no after manipulation, but the loops automatically fastening themselves the moment the expansive force of the bale is felt.

The construction and operation of my invention are as follows: B is the plate out of which the folded tie is formed. This plate B is cut, punched, or otherwise formed, out of any suitable metal of proper length, width, and thickness, and is left in its normal condition; or, before being folded, an open plate of the form or contour clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, which consists of a rectangular plate, B, having shoulders b projecting from the four corners thereof. This plate B is then folded as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, leaving a curved head or end, 0, at its direct center, and an open front, 0. Through this front 0 is to be introduced hooked ends of the bands D D. When this plate B is bent into the looped form, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, there must be left between its upper and lower surfaces a space, at, which in width shall be a little more than twice the thickness of the band D, so as to freely admit the long section of one of its hooked or looped ends and the short section of the other. Thus when the bale is secured, the short end of one of the oblate hooks at the ends of the band D is in immediate contact with the bale, and

the short end of the hook at the opposite end is held between the upper surface of the looped plate B and the upper section of the lower hook. The head of each of the hooks is drawn tight over the edge B of the looped plate when the expansive force of the cotton automatically efiects and completes the fastening, the curved head 0 of the looped plate preventing its slipping in one direction, and the shoulders b preventing its slipping off or out at the front end 0 of the looped plate B.

From the foregoing description, the opera tion of my improved tie so as to effect the proper fastening of the hooked ends of the band or loop will be readily understood. The tie-plate having been cut, punched, or otherwise formed, and its sections then turned over against themselves or bent so as to leave a looped plate such as shown in .Figs. 2 and 3, having an open front, 0, and shoulders b projecting from each sideof its upper and lower surface and at direct right angles to their parallel planes, is then ready for use. The tie may befurnished the trade with one hook of theband secured to the tie, as is usually the custom. The bands are then placed in the press and the cotton duly compressed. The free end of the band is then bent at the proper distance so as to furnish the other oblate hook, and introduced through the open front G of the buckle. The stationary book of the band D then incloses or surrounds the lower plate of the looped buckle B with its short end, in immediate contact with the cotton of the bale. The other or free hook in like manner encircles the upper plate, its short end being firmly se- The plate B having recesses A and projec- I tions or' shoulders I), said plate being folded over, as represented by Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, all constructed and operated substan- I tially as described, to form a fastening for metallic bands around bales of cotton and like material.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. SWETT. Witnesses:

EDWIN JAMES, J 0s. T. K. PLANT. 

